Joe -
Would you look into the sudden closure of Dr. John Woods' OB/GYN office? At 6 months pregnant, I was understandibly agitated at the lack of notice (I showed up for my appt., and was told that doctor was not in, and would be closing down the office - no letter, no phone call NOTHING) about needing to find another doctor, but I can only imagine the frustration of women due to deliver at any time. The receptionist told me that his insurance would run out on March 15, so he couldn't see any more patients, let alone deliver any babies. If this was ONLY a high cost of insurance problem, I would think that his patients would have received some kind of advanced notice!
I have since found out that a few years back, Dr. Woods was serving weekends in jail for DUI, and heard yesterday that he received another one, and that has more to do with his office closing than insurance matters.
Thanks!
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
40 comments:
This type of closing will be everywhere. The cuts in medicare and your new leader(obama) have made it impossible for the doctors to maintain insurance or keep their present staff. The insurance companies are refusing to pay visits that they would normally cover. Welcome to the change that obama and his democrates have made.
You ain't seen nothing yet dear!
I was in the heart center yesterday and saw a sign in the waiting room to contact your senators about what is happening to medicare. They are pushing this under the rug , or at least trying.
The quality of care will go down hill in a short period of time. I've seen it slip in the last 6 months. I really don't care how much money the doctors make , I just want to be well , so don't give me that crap about they make too much money.
Or it could just be that this guy got into some trouble and his malpractice insurer dropped him.
It can't always be about Obama.
i work for a doctor and i see the EOB's as they come in. The doctors dont make the money you thing they do. they can spend an hour with a patient and give treatment and receive a check for $7.46. Less than a fast food worker,so unless the doctor is on a "cash only" basis with the patients they are not raking in the dough you think they are.
The original poster highlighted her lack of understanding by using the word "only."
Talk about clueless.
The Obama voters will be the first to complain about how screwed up everything is.
Probably blame it all on the Republicans.
The changes in the health care system have not been voted on. This is what is happening under the old system that some people think is so wonderful.
Get off of Obama's back, he is trying to fix a problem that was in the making 8 yrs before him. You also need to blame the senator from Kentucky, the jerk who would not let the extended unemployment and state funding pass. As For Woods, that would be the last doctor I would go to, told me I needed a Hysterectomy and when I went and got a second opinion he would not see me again because of that.
8:42,
That is the biggest load of crap. You are one of those people that blame everything that happens on somebody else.
His office closed because the insurance was too much. It was going up and up and he just couldn't do it.
Thats why you need to replace them this year and get back to our roots. Not some unamerican radical KEYAN.
Dui or not Dr. Woods delivered my oldest daughter and saved her life!Salisbury will miss him
What is a KEYAN?
8:54 The last time I spent a whole hour with a doctor, it was for surgery. I don't know of any doctors that give you an hour of their time for any less than surgery...and they don't get $7.46 for that! typical time with doctor for "treatment", less than 15 minutes!
Dear 8:59, I didn't want to step on your toes , I know that the truth hurts sometimes , but I'm sure you will get over it. Take a deep breath and relax , you will go down hill with the rest of us! Sorry!
Maybe when you have been involved in several malpractice suits, your insurance DOES increase!! Use this link to check out Dr. Wood's (or anyone else for that matter). This link is open to the public.
http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/inquiry/inquiry-index.jsp
*8:59, get real, why would anyone want to get qa job, when they can lay around for two whole years collect money and do nothing? I am pretty sure that if you worked at walmart for minimum wage, by the time you worked 40 hrs a week and then paid all the taxes for that 40 hrs, you would wind up with about the same amount you'd get from unemployment benefits and not having bothered to get out of bed.
two years of unemployment is really stretching things a bit don't you think? Or let me guess you would like it for the rest of your life?
I got one for ya, my health insurance company is trying to tell me they are not responsible for my daughters bills relating to a broken arm because she fell on my property so my home owners insurance should cover it! Now I paid $450ish to my home owners coverage last year but paid over $8500 to the health ins. co. in premiums. With only 4 Dr. appointments for the entire year the insurance company paid out less than $1000 so where exactly is the other $7500 I have paid going? Yet they want me to pay a $1000 deductible to home owners insurer for no reason other than they do not want to cover what is their responsibility.
I love Dr. Woods and will miss him! He delivered my second child...I had a complicated pregnancy and she was a month early. I visited him a couple times a week for quite awhile and he and his staff always made me feel well taken care of... Salisbury is about to have problems...take a look at how many obs & gyns we have in town...most aren't taking new patients!
i went to dr. woods briefly when I was pregnant and trust me, you are better off finding another doctor. I had a problem pregnancy and have yet to actually meet dr. woods, and when they received the test results that showed a problem, I received no phone call or letter, they just started talking about it like I already knew at my next appt and said, oh, you should've gotten a letter in the mail.
You should be glad his doors are closed if you would take a look at his numerous malpractice suits listed on the Maryland Judiciary pages!! People should really investigate their physician's history. Good riddance!!
9:48 I have never received unemployment in my life. I know some people that do and are looking for a job, and not wanting to sit on their butt. That senator from Kentucky is an arrogant a__! I do think 2 yrs of unemployment is way too much, that is definately taking adcantage of the system, but for the ones who have been laid off and not for 2 yrs need it.
What happens to our files? How do we get our information to send to another doctor? Are they going to send us a letter?
To set the record straight to the original poster who seems to thrive on gossip. Dr Woods, did NOT get another DUI. As a matter of fact his old one is just that an old one, 10 years ago and yes he did pay his dues. He is only human. He was not on call nor was it during working hours. How many of your friends have gotten a DUI or something similiar?
Everyone has an opinion and is entitled to it, and not everyone is going to like every Dr. Nurse, Accountant, Lawyer etc. that they meet. His practice is indeed closing because of the cost of his medical malpractice rising to an amount that is unaffordable. The same thing has previously happened to other OB/Gyns in the area. What people don't understand is OB/Gyn's pay the highest amount of malpractice insurance because the parents of the child have 18 years to file a claim against the delivering OB from the time of birth. Thus, the high premiums. Anyone can search the court forums it is public record. What they don't tell you for every claim filed against the doctor whether neglegent or not a claim is a claim and is listed. Look up other doctors and you will see the same thing, several claims. As far as not giving notice to patient's, they started being notified in February. It's kind of hard to notify thousands of people in 2 weeks. I know I will miss him and wish him the best of luck in all his new endevours.
Obama, The Great Hope.
What a total disaster.
I don't know what's worse, Him as President, or the dingbats that defend him and/or voted for him.
We'll become a Socialist nation, just like they want, and they'll be first in line to blame it all on somebody else.
Anyone who has voted Democrat is responsible for what is happening.
Thank God I can still buy guns and ammo in this State.
At least for now.
i am so bummed, i had an unplanned pregnancy, and delivered 5 weeks earlier, very stressful time. Dr. Woods was GREAT, if it wasn't for him i don't know what i would have done. My little girl turned out great!!!!!! she had apgar scores of 8's & 9's for a preemie. I am soooo going to miss him, now who am i going to get.
I am/was a patient with Dr. Woods. I called the office this morning as soon as I saw this post and they said that I could pick up my file anytime before May 1st. They gave me no information as to why he is closing his doors.
I was scheduled for surgery with Dr. Woods in January. Two days before the procedure, I received a call from Dr. Woods saying he couldn't perform the surgery because of an issue with his liability insurance.
As for Sen. Bunning...he was NOT against the extention of unemployment funds - he was against passing it WITHOUT the funds to pay for it. They just passed a bill on 2/12 saying that nothing could be passed without the funds to pay for and them 3 weeks later do just that very thing.
blame obama, blame insurance rates, blame whoever. regardless of the doctor's reasons, the patients (especially pregnant ones) deserved notice. it's hard to find a doctor willing to take you on at 6 months pregnant
3:40... a DUI didn't happen in his bedroom! It happened on public streets and had the potential to KILL people. I do some pretty freaky things in MY bedroom and I really enjoy every second of it. However, I have never gotten behind the wheel of a car drunk and risked the life of innocent people..including newborn babies! So your comparison is wayyy off! I also do not attend church nor do I check up on the latest fashions, I am me and I am pretty darn satisfied with that so I don't care what someone says or wears; I do however care when someone is risking the safety of my children.
Dr. Woods delivered both of my boys. He was always professional and caring. He took much time to explain everything in great detail so my wife and I could understand exactly what was going on. He made us feel like we were his most important priority when we were in his office. Both babies were delivered without incident, Dr. Woods and his staff did a fantastic job.
Dan Niblett
Eden, MD
He is a total alcoholic, and I would bet that has something to do with it. I met his wife about four years ago and they had just had a baby. Within and hour of meeting her she was telling me about what a loser drunk he was and that she wanted a divorce. Doctors have the same dirty laundry and problems as the rest of society.
Just prior to his DUI I was sent to Dr Woods for surgery for Cervical cancer. My PCP at the time said "he's not the one I would have recommended, but you can get to him quickly, and it's very important to get this taken care of immediately". Ok, so the week before my emergency surgery to get rid of the cancer, I was called and told that he couldn't perform the procedure for several weeks because he had broken his arm in a car accident. Later, I found out it was the DUI. He did the surgery approximately 7 weeks later (remember, this was an "emergency" according to my PCP). Less than a year later I had to have yet another surgery for the same issue because he did not do a thorough job the first time. This time I had Dr Jennings and he was great. All in all, my opinion is that Thank GOD Dr. Woods is no longer going to be practicing. The man is an irresponsible menace.
5:51
Dr.Woods doesn't have a 4 year old and he is not divorced...get your facts straight before you slander people.
It disgusts me how quickly people are to judge others and smear their character based on rumors and unconfirmed acusations. We all have our own opionions of people and therr actions and there just that OPINIONS!!! I have been a patient of his for over 12 years he delivered both of my children under critical situations and both my children and I came out in perfect health and you can't trust that to just anyone. We as a society have ruined doctors and their careers because we see them as gods and miracle workers and then most see dollar signs. many doctors and other major public servants do some not so perfect things in their personal lives but does that make them lesser professionals in their fields?I think Not!!!! Our government needs to get a handle on the insurance companies that rip off us paying americans and give us the service and care we deserve and stop catering to the lazy asses that get medical care all expenses paid. Because of that were going to start losing all great doctors that don't work for state run clinics. I believe you get what you pay for and I for one want Dr. Woods to continue to practice he will be greatly missed and for anyone who disagrees look for another doctor. We all have choices.
dp delmar,de
I think it is odd how many "high risk" pregnancy patients have responded on here. Is it something in the air that is making so many woman have "high risk" pregnancies around here? Seems to me there should be more concern over how many of his patients claim to have been through "high risk" pregnancy than his office being shut down! After hearing so many supposed "high risk" pregnancies makes me thankful I took the hour and thirty minute drive to be treated by another doctor and deliver well away from so many "high risk" pregnancy patients!
In my honest opinion, Dr. Woods is one of the most caring people I have ever met. He delivered both of my babies, the most recent in December 2009. Anytime I had a problem or concern, I would contact his office and I would receive an answer or an appointment almost immediately. No question was ever treated lightly.
To answer the questions about records, you are able to pick them up from his office. They allowed me to fax the request.
Unfortunately, Salisbury has lost another doctor to deliver our babies. I know I will miss Dr. Woods greatly and wish him the best in his future endeavors.
THE DEFINITION OF IGNORANCE AS BRIEFLY STATED WOULD MEAN TO HAVE NO EDUCATION OF; OR A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF A SITUATION:..... WITH THAT BEING SAID, TO THE "IGNORANT COMMENT" MADE ABOUT THE NUMBER OF "HIGH RISK" MOTHERS WHO RESPONDED I WILL SAY THIS ON BEHALF OF ALL OF "US":
LETS BE MATURE ON HERE AND KEEP THE "IGNORANT COMMENTS" TO THE CONFINES OF OUR LIVING ROOMS WHERE THERE ARE AN EQUALITY OF AN AUDIANCE ON THE SAME EDUCATIONAL LEVEL! THERE ARE A LIMITED NUMBER OF PHYSICIANS WILLING TO ACCEPT "HIGH RISK" PATIENTS! THOSE OF US WHO ARE OR HAVE BEEN "HIGH RISK" IN THE PAST HAVE MOST LIKELY GIVEN BIRTH TO A "MICRO PREEMIE" (OF OR AROUND 1 POUND) OR BELOW A 4 POUND BABY, OR A CHILD WHO IS BORN WITH DOWNS SYNDROME! IT WAS PROBABLY THE "HOMEWORK" THAT WE DID THAT AIDED US IN OUR DECISION WHEN CHOOSING DR. JOHN WOODS! IN FACT, I AM FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT THE HOUR AND A HALF TRAVEL TIME FOR YOU LACKED MUCH TO SAY ANYTHING BUT MAYBE "YOUR" PHYSICIAN WAS NOT "TRAINED" OR "EDUCATED" IN CARING FOR HIGH RISK MOMS! (IE: LIKELY MOTHERS WHO HAVE HAD CANCER OR AN INCOMPETANT CERVIX OR SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR!)
NEXT TIME YOU MAY THINK TWICE ABOUT HOW EXACTLY "CLOSED MNDED" AND "REDICULOUSLY SMALL" POSTING SUCH AN "IGNORANT" COMMENT IN THE PUBLIC EYE WOULD MAKE YOU APPEAR! THEN AGAIN, CERTAINLY THATS WHY YOUR SIGNATURE WAS THE NOTORIUS....."ANONYMOUS"!
WITH HIGHEST REGARDS,
PAMELA S LYNCH
Its funny I had 3 high risks and wasn't from down here so I don't understand that comment at all..... I went to dr woods for bleeding problems that I had been dealing with for years ( over 10 ) and dr woods was the ONLY dr that actually helped me and found out and got fixed what was wrong... your talking 365 days a year bleeding and countless doctors later and he was they only doctor that finally helped me !! God Blessed this mans hands... I wish him nothing but the best !!
Does anyone know where our records are now?
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